Wheel mount for suction cleaners



Dec. 13, 1949 c. F. FOLEY 2,490,955

WHEEL MOUNT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 13, 1949 c. F. FOLEY 2,490,955

WHEEL MOUNT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed March 22, 1945 w 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 84 W 1 Q .5 L a I{' "if" INVENTOR.

ff J aid/[812 5- Dec. 13, 1949 c. F. FOLEY 2,490,955

WHEEL MOUNT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed March 22, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR. 6%.1/32: 75" ZZ/eg' Patented Dec. 13, 1949 WHEEL MOUNT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Charles F. Foley, Bloomington, 11]., assignor to Eureka Williams Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 22, 1946, Serial No. 656,449

Claims. 1

This invention relates to suction cleaners and has particular reference to a new and improved wheel mounting therefor.

In suction cleaners, it is desirable to make some of the wheels adjustable relative to the chassis for properly positioning the nozzle of the cleaner relative to the surface covering being cleaned and for other purposes and heretofore many such arrangements have been suggested. Such suggested arrangements, however, have been open to objection because of the expense or complexity thereof or because the space requirements therefor necessitated arranging the cleaner body farther above the floor than would otherwise be necessary. Some of such suggested arrangements have also been objectionable on the ground that they might be adjusted by the users of the machine in such a way as to seriously impair the efiicient working of the cleaner.

The present invention aims to overcome these objections by providing a compact, inexpensive and foolproof wheel mounting and adjustment.

Principal objects of the invention, therefore, are to provide:

A new and improved suction cleaner;

A new and improved compact and inexpensive wheel mounting for suction cleaners; and

A new and compact adjustable wheel mounting for suction cleaners.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there are three sheets, which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims. I also contemplate that of the several different features of my invention, certain ones thereof may be advantageously employed in some applications separate and apart from the remainder of the features.

Inthe drawings Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly broken away generally along the line il of Fig. 2 of a suction, cleaner embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the cleaner with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 2 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view taken along the staggered line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 1, a suction cleaner embodying the invention in general comprises a chassis or casing In provided with front wheels l2, rear wheels It, a nozzle IS, a handle, part of which is shown at I8 and a dirt collecting and filtering bag (not shown). The casing or chassis, in

addition to the nozzle l6, includes an electric motor driven. suction creating means which is operative for inducing a flow of dirt laden air through the nozzle l6 and into the dirt collecting bag. The nozzle It is arranged at an elevation slightly above the plane defined by the bottom of the wheels l2 and I4 so that during the operation of the cleaner, the flow of air into the mouth of the nozzle IE will lift the surface covering up against the nozzle mouth where it may be advantageously acted upon by the agitator (not shown) operatively associated with the nozzle.

It has been determined that the elevation of the nozzle it above the plane defined by the bottom of the wheels i2 and M should be adjusted for different thicknesses and types of surface coverings. Obviously, the wheels l2 and M will sink into the pile or nap of the surface covering, the amount of sinkage being dependent upon the thickness and type of surface covering, as well as the variable loads imposed upon the wheels l2 and I4 during the use of the cleaner.

- According to the present invention, the wheels i2 and I4 are constructed and arranged relative to the chassis i0 so that the nozzle '5 will be substantially properly positioned for most rugs and an adjustment has been provided, as will be explained hereinafter, by which the elevation of the nozzle i6 above the plane defined by the bottom of the wheels i2 and I4 may be increased for unusually heavy or thick pile carpetings.

The handle I8 is pivoted at 20 to a handle bracket on the chassis l0 and handle locking mechanism, including locking members 22 and 24 and pin 26 on the handle socket 28 are provided for locking the handle in its parked position. As shown in Fig. 1, the handle i8 is in its operating position and in this position, the locking members 22 and 24 function to locate the rear wheels l4 in a fixed position relative to the casing 18, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The handle locking mechanism is disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Edwin J. Balluff, Serial No. 555,606, filed September 25, 1944, now Patent No. 2,422,216, issued June 17, 1947, for Handle lock for suction cleaners.

In the present instance, the front wheels l2 are not adjustable and the rear wheels 14 are adjustable relative to the chassis of the cleaner. As shown in Fig. 2, the mounting for the rear wheels includes an axle or shaft 38 having trunnions 32 on the ends thereof, each trunnion 32 having a wheel l4 journalled thereon. The shaft 38 is rotatably mounted in a wheel bracket 34 which, in turn, is pivotally mounted on the chassis by means of the pins 36. Leaf springs 38 are arranged so as to bias the rear end of the cleaner upwardly away from the wheels l4. The bracket 34 may comprise a'sheet metal stamping having arms 48 and two spaced hollow portions 40' and 42 forming walls 44, 46, 48 and 58 provided with aligned holes through which the shaft 38 extends. The end walls 44 and 58 are formed to provide bearings 52 in which the shaft 30 is rotatably journalled.

A pin 54 projecting from the shaft 30 between the walls 46 and 48 provides a means whereby the shaft 30 may be rotated I88 degrees. The axis of the trunnions 32 is parallel to and offset relative to the axis of the shaft 38 and as illustrated, it will be noted that the axis of the trunnions 32 is below the axis of the shaft 38. By rotating the shaft 30 180 degrees in a clockwise direction, looking at Figs. and 6, the trunnions 32 will be shifted so that the axis thereof will be above the axis of the shaft 30 whereby the position of the wheels l4 will be adjusted relative to the chassis, to wit, the chassis ID will be moved closer to the wheels l4. This will have the effect of raising the nozzle. In order to prevent unintentional or accidental adjustment of the wheels, a detent mechanism is associated with the shaft 38 and this comprises, as shown in Fig. 5, a detent 68 formed on a spring 62 and a pair of notches in the shaft 36, the notches being provided by the ends of a diametral hole 64 in the shaft 38, the spring 62 being suitably secured to the bracket 34. Snap rings 66 are secured on the shaft 30 adjacent the bearings 52 so as to locate the shaft 38 axially relative to the bracket 34. The locking members 22 and 24 project through a slot in the bracket 34 and are pivoted on the shaft 30.

A spring 18 having one end thereof connected to a part of the bracket 34, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and another end thereof connected to the member 22 biases the member 22 to the position as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. In this position, a shoulder 12 on the member 22 engages a shoulder 14 on the chassis so as to limit the movement of the shaft 38 away from the chassis l8 under the influence of the springs 38.

The locking member 24 includes a lug 18 providing a shoulder 80 which cooperates with a shoulder 82 on the chassis to limit the movement of the axle 30 upwardly relative to the chassis l0. Thus in the position in which the parts are shown, the axis of the shaft 38 is fixed relative to the cleaner chassis [8. However, under some conditions, it may be advisable to eliminate the limit stop provided by the shoulders 88 and 82.

The springs 38 are constructed and arranged so as to bias the rear end of the chassis upwardly away from the wheels l4 and may be of sufficient strength so as not to be deflected by the loads imposed. on the rear wheels in the use of the cleaner. However, as previously described, the shaft 38 as shown in the drawings is fixed relative to the chassis i8 whenever the handle i8 is in its operating position.

Each spring is secured to a depending boss 84 on the chassis by a bolt 86. The bolts 86 thus secure the wheel bracket 34 and the parts carried thereby to the chassis. Access to the bolts 86 is provided by holes in the bracket. One end 88 of each of the springs extends through a slot in the bracket 34. The other end of each of the springs is provided with a transverse channel or groove 98 which seats in a groove provided by a reduced portion 92 of a pin 38 intermediate the ends thereof whereby the pin 36 and the spring 38 are secured against displacement.

Another portion of the boss 84 is formed to provide a circular seat 86 for the pin 36, the seat including a portion 98 which projects into the groove provided by the reduced portion 82 of the pin whereby the pin 36 is located relative to the boss 84. The ends of the pin 36 project through holes in the arms 40 and thereby provide a pivotal mounting for the bracket 34 on the cleaner chassis. In other words, the bracket 34 pivots on the pins 36 which are secured by the springs 38, which, in turn, are secured to the chassis by the bolts 86. The springs 38 are formed so that the ends 88 thereof will bias the brackets in a clockwise direction about the pins 36 looking at Figs. 1, 5 and 6.

When the handle 18 is in its vertical or parked position, the pin 28 will be engaged by the hook provided on the upper end of the locking member 24 to lock the handle in its parkedposition and at which time the member 22 will be aligned with the member 24 so that the locking shoulders 12 and 14 will be disengaged. The leaf springs at such time will bias the rear end of the cleaner upwardly away from the wheels (4 so as to automatically lock the handle in its parked position when it is restored to such position.

The handle lock may be released by pushing downwardly on the handle in its parked position so as to disengage the pin 26 from the hook of the locking member 24 and thereafter pivoting the handle [8 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1).

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations which fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a wheel mounting therefor comprising a bracket pivotally secured at one end thereof to said cleaner, a shaft rotatably carried by the other end of said bracket and having trunnions offset and parallel to the rotary axis of said shaft, a wheel journalled on each of said trunnions, means cooperable with said shaft for preventing rotation thereof, spring means biasing said other end of said bracket away from said cleaner and means limiting the extent to which said axle may move away from said cleaner.

2. In a suction cleaner, a wheel mounting therefor comprising a bracket having a portion thereof formed to engage a pin, a boss on said cleaner providing a seat for a pin and in straddle relationship with said portion, a pin on said seat and engaged with said bracket portion. a spring mounted on said one member secured to said cleaner and having a portion thereof bearing against said pin so as to position and retain said pin on said seat, said pin, seat and spring member having interfltting portions preventing relative bodily displacement thereof, said spring bearing against said bracket to bias one end of the same away from said cleaner and supporting wheels for said-cleaner carried by said one end of said bracket.

3. In a suction cleaner, 2. wheel mountin therefor comprising a bracket having a portion thereof formed to engage a pin, a boss on said cleaner providing a seat for a pin and in straddle relationship with said portion, a pin secured on said seat and engaged with said bracket portion to provide a pivotal mounting for said bracket, a spring bearing against said bracket to bias one end of the same away from said cleaner, a shaft rotatably carried by said one end of said bracket and having trunnions parallel to but offset from the rotary axis of said shaft, and supporting wheels for said cleaner journalled on said trunnions.

4. In a suction cleaner, 9, wheel mounting therefor comprising a bracket having spaced apertured arms, a boss on said cleaner between said arms, said boss having a seat thereon, a pin on said seat projecting laterally from said boss and through said apertures to provide a pivotal mounting for said bracket on said cleaner, a leaf spring secured to said cleaner and having one portion thereof bearing against said pin to retain the same on its seat and another portion hearing against said bracket to bias one end of said bracket away from said cleaner, an axle rotatably end on said bracket and having trunnions parallel to and offset from the 30 flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,079,293 Kirby May 4, 193'! 3 2,188,381 White Jan. 30, 1940 2,309,214 Rey Jan. 26, 1943 rotary axis of said axle, wheels on said trunnions, means positioning said axle with said trunnions fixed relative to said bracket and means for limiting the movement of said one end of said bracket away from said cleaner.

5. In a suction cleaner, a wheel mounting therefor comprising a bracket having spaced apertured arms, a boss on said cleaner between said arms, said boss having a seat thereon, a pin on said seat projecting laterally from said boss and through said apertures to provide a pivotal mounting for said bracket on said cleaner, a leaf spring secured to said cleaner and having one portion thereof bearing against said pin to retain the same on its seat and another portion bearing against said bracket to bias one end of said bracket away from said cleaner, an axle rotatably mounted on said one end on said bracket and having trunnions parallel to and offset from the axis of said axle, wheels on said trunnions, a detent positioning said axle with said trunnions fixed relative to said bracket, means for fixing said one end of said bracket relative to said cleaner, and means on said axle for turning the same.

CHARLES F. FOLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the 

